Council leader's optimism after Bournemouth store closures

Concerns have been raised in recent months following further big name departures, with Wilko and New Look already closed and House of Fraser shutting this weekend.

Councillor Drew Mellor said a lot of change is happening on the high street and the local authority was trying to be at the forefront of it.

In a recent live Facebook broadcast, the council leader said: "We genuinely believe our town centres, if they are clean and they are safe, they can be really attractive places to be and we are supporting any way we can and I definitely do know there is some good news coming, particularly in terms of Bournemouth."

• Read more: Farewell House of Fraser: Bournemouth’s oldest department store closes

He added: "I absolutely hear that the large amounts of those big department stores or national chains have been coming out of high streets and town centres at a real pace and then there is a fear about what is going to happen next.

Cllr Drew Mellor

"I think Bournemouth is a really interesting example. If we take the Bobby's department store that's come in, trying to reimagine how we are actually using town centres. From my view and for my money, it is absolutely fantastic.

"There is an art gallery people are using, there are some independent stores really celebrated, there are some food concessions, so trying to reimagine what the future of high streets and town centres."

• Read more: Bournemouth former New Look store boarded up after closure

The council leader highlighted Bobby's as a success in the town centre

Councillor Mellor said civic leaders "know of a number of interesting companies coming in" to replace recent store closures.

He added: "I believe that we will have a renaissance effectively in terms of our town centres and some of the independent retailers and offerings coming in."

The senior Conservative councillor said "fantastic work" had been carried out at Kingland Crescent, where Dolphin Shopping Centre owners Legal and General have allowed 10 independent businesses to trade rent free.

Cllr Nigel Brooks

"We have got a lead member for high street resurgence, Cllr Nigel Brooks, so across the conurbation he is tasked with looking at how can support local centres," said Cllr Mellor.

"He has got a very extensive track record in retail and retail management and place management, so he is coming in and leading that work for us."

The council is working on three trial areas, Kinson, Broadstone and Highcliffe, as the first focus in its high street regeneration project.

• Read more: Highcliffe, Broadstone and Kinson high streets set for boost

The former Debenham's unit reopened as Bobby's last summer

Cllr Mellor said the recently approved BCP Council budget for 2022/23 included millions of pounds of new money for making town and district centres cleaner, greener and safer.